How to Start Using Obsidian: A Beginner’s Guide

“Over 1 million people have downloaded Obsidian—but most never get past creating their first note.”

When I first downloaded Obsidian, I stared at the screen for a good 10 minutes thinking, “Okay… now what?” I didn’t get it. No home screen, no templates, no hand-holding. Just a blank space. But once I cracked the basics, I was hooked.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to start using Obsidian, step by step, from installing it to writing your first connected note. If you’ve felt overwhelmed or just didn’t “click” with it right away, don’t worry—Obsidian has a bit of a learning curve, but it’s totally worth climbing.

What is Obsidian and Why Use It?

So let’s start simple: What even is Obsidian?

Obsidian is a free, local-first note-taking app that stores your notes as plain Markdown files on your own device. Unlike apps like Notion or Evernote, your data isn’t locked into a cloud. It’s yours. Forever.

It’s built for knowledge management. Think of it like a digital brain where ideas aren’t just saved but linked—meaning you can see how your thoughts connect over time.

Personally, I switched from Google Docs because everything felt scattered. Obsidian turned my chaos into a connected system. I started with notes from books I was reading, and soon I had this web of insights that actually made sense when I revisited them.

How to Download and Install Obsidian

Alright, let’s get this baby on your computer.

Go to obsidian.mdClick Download — pick your system (Windows, Mac, Linux)Install it like any other appLaunch it and hit “Create new vault”Name your vault and choose where to save it (I went with “My Brain”—cheesy but true)

Tip: Keep your vault in a synced folder (like Dropbox or iCloud) if you want access from multiple devices. No native cloud sync unless you pay for Obsidian Sync.

I remember accidentally creating two vaults when I started and getting super confused when my notes weren’t showing up. Rookie mistake. You only need one to begin with.

Getting Familiar with the Interface

When you first open Obsidian, it might look kinda barebones. That’s a feature, not a bug. Clean interface = customizable.

Here’s what you’ll see:

File explorer on the left (your note tree)Editor window in the centerGraph View of all the notes in your new vault.

Some hotkeys to get comfy with:

Cmd/Ctrl + O – open a noteCmd/Ctrl + P – command palette (your new best friend)Cmd/Ctrl + N – new note

You can install themes if the look bugs you. I like the Minimal theme—super clean and easy on the eyes.

Your First Note: Folders, Links, and Markdown

Here’s where the fun starts. Go ahead, create your first note (Cmd/Ctrl + N) and type something like:

# My First Obsidian Note This is a test. Let's link to [[another note]] and see what happens!

Boom. You just created a link to another note. No folders, no dragging, no mess.

You can use folders if you want to, but Obsidian is all about links. I personally bounce between tags and folders. The great thing is Obsidian is flexible, and you can create a system that works for you. Just keep in mind that Tags and links make everything findable.

Markdown is the only formatting language here. It’s super simple:

# = H1, ## = H2**bold**,_italic_,- bullets,> quotes

Trust me, you’ll pick it up in a day.

Using Tags and Backlinks to Connect Ideas

Here’s where Obsidian gets addictive.

Tags (#likeThis) help you group notes. I use them for moods, projects, even energy levels. For example:
#idea, #writing, #lowEnergy

But the real magic? Backlinks. When you link to another note, Obsidian keeps track of which notes link to that one. It’s like a web of your own thinking.

Click the little icon on the right (Backlinks pane), and you’ll see all notes that reference the current one—even if you never meant them to. Super powerful.

Then there’s graph view. It’s like looking inside your brain. Honestly, I spent way too much time staring at it early on—looking for connections and just being amazed at the links that were forming.

Must-Know Features and Plugins for Beginners

Here are a few must-use features I wish someone told me about:

Daily Notes: Start every day fresh. I use mine as a digital journal/to-do list hybrid. Enable under Settings → Core Plugins.Templates: Pre-fill common note structures. You’ll want the Templates plugin.Hotkeys: Customize everything. Make it work for you.Community Plugins: Go to Settings → Community Plugins → Browse—you’ll find gems like:CalendarTasksTemplater

Just don’t install 20 plugins at once like I did. You’ll break something. Start small.

Common Mistakes Beginners Make in Obsidian

Okay, let me save you some headaches.

Mistake 1: Overusing folders
They feel safe, but they kill flexibility. Stick with linked notes and tags.

Mistake 2: Not linking ideas
You’re building a web, not a filing cabinet. Always ask, “What other notes does this connect to?”

Mistake 3: Skipping markdown
Trust me, you’ll save time if you just learn the basics up front.

Bonus Mistake: Thinking it’s supposed to make sense immediately
Obsidian grows with you. You won’t have a second brain after one day—but after 30? Game changer.

Conclusion

If you’ve made it this far, congrats—you’re officially ahead of 90% of people who downloaded Obsidian and gave up.

This app can transform how you organize knowledge, plan your day, and even reflect on your thoughts. But only if you give it some time. Start with daily notes. Link generously. Play around.

And hey—don’t forget to have fun with it. Your brain is messy. Your notes can be too.

Join me for the next post Obsidian Setup Everything You Need on Day One as the series continues.

If you want to see where it started you can always check out Obsidian – My Second Brain post.

What was your first note in Obsidian? Drop it in the comments—I’d love to see how you got started.

The post How to Start Using Obsidian: A Beginner’s Guide appeared first on Planet Tash.